5 Big-name NFL players who could be traded before 2020 kickoff

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 13: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Jacksonville Jaguars charges onto the field to face the New Orleans Saints before the start of the first quarter at TIAA Bank Field on October 13, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

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Yannick Ngakoue, NFL (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

1. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Yannick Ngakoue tried to force his way out of Jacksonville before the NFL Draft, even getting into a heated exchange on Twitter with the team’s co-owner, Tony Khan. However, no teams offered Jacksonville the compensation they wanted for the former Pro Bowl defensive end. Instead, teams might wait until the Jaguars are forced to trade Ngakoue or until his deal ends after the 2020 season.

The Jaguars applied their franchise tag to Ngakoue in March. If Ngakoue reports to the team when camp starts, he’ll make $17.788 million on the one-year deal. However, it’s looking like Ngakoue has no intention of getting caught in a Jaguars jersey ever again. Hays Carlyon, who covers the Jaguars for 1010 XL, even admitted on CBS Sports’ Pick Six Podcast that he’d “be shocked if he [Ngakoue] ever plays for the Jaguars again.”

Jacksonville drafted Ngakoue with a third-round pick in 2016. Over his first four years with the team, the Maryland product produced 14 forced fumbles, 37.5 sacks, 85 quarterback hits, 122 tackles, and two defensive touchdowns. He’s not an elite pass rusher, but he’s a second-tier defensive end.

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I also considered Ngakoue’s teammate, Leonard Fournette, for a spot on this list. ESPN’s Adam Schefter even reported that the Jaguars had trade discussions with other teams about Fournette before the draft. However, those talks went nowhere, mainly because Jacksonville couldn’t get the compensation they wanted for their fourth-year running back. The team declined Fournette’s fifth-year rookie option in early May, meaning this is his final year with the Jaguars.

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